HAMPDEN — The field lights were working at Hampden Academy, but a loss of power rendered the scoreboard and public address system useless.
But it was easy to tell the winner of the Class B boys’ soccer state championship game Saturday night, watching the Greely High players jump upon each other in celebration.
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Greely defeated Camden Hills 1-0 for the title.
Jacob Nason’s goal, on an excellent feed from Aidan Black early in the first half, was all that the Rangers needed.
Greely finished its season 14-2-2, with its first state championship since winning the Class A title in 2007. Camden Hills (16-1-1) lost in the title game for the third straight year.
Camden Hills began the game passing and moving the ball upfield. The Windjammers threatened first with one of Peter Vannorsdall’s long throw-ins. He threw it into a crowd, but the Greely defenders never let Camden Hills take a shot. Finally, Joe Saffian kicked it out.
The Rangers’ defense smothered several chances by the Windjammers. Camden Hills would work for a shot, only to have Greely clear it. Saffian, Lucas Watt, Harrison Shain and Patrick O’Shea played stellar defense.
“The defense did a great job,” Greely Coach Mike Andreasen said. “I look at the point-blank shots from Camden Hills, there’s not much there.”
Greely also worked the ball up, trying to get it to the dangerous feet of its forwards.
Black finally got possession and sent a perfect breakout pass to Nason to the right of the goal, about 15 yards out. Nason drilled his shot nearside for a 1-0 lead, about 31/2 minutes into the first half.
It was Nason’s third goal of the playoffs.
“He put some smoke on it,” Andreasen said. “My big worry was that when we score first, we start to relax. And I thought we relaxed.”
Black, Nason and Matthew Crowley did apply some pressure in the first half. At one point, the Windjammers, trying to keep the ball away from Nason, almost scored an own goal, but Camden Hills keeper Marshall Spear made the save.
The Windjammers finally got some chances. Both Tristan Fong and Simko Josiah sailed balls over the crossbar.
Josiah, Vannorsdall and Grayson Szumilas accounted for most of the Windjammers’ attack in the first half. Greely keeper Alex McAdoo handled all shots his way as the Rangers went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Greely came out aggressively in the second half. Nason sent a ball just over the crossbar. Then Nason crossed to Benjamin Ingraham. Spear made the save.
Nason got another chance, shooting wide.
The Rangers were awarded a couple free kicks early in the first half. Crowley sent the ball in both times and Camden Hills’ Colin Morse headed both out.
“In the second half, we regained (the momentum),” Andreasen said. “We had some really good chances. We just couldn’t put it away.”
Greely had a great opportunity for an insurance goal. Nason crossed over to Crowley, covered by two Windjammers. Crowley went down and was awarded a penalty shot. He shot low, but Spear guessed correctly, diving to his right and knocking the ball away.
Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:
kthomas@pressherald.com
Twitter: @KevinThomasPPH
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